As José Martí used to say, homeland is humanity. In every country, in which one has been and has not been, there are people who, because of what they think, their attitudes, what they do, what they feel, their solidarity, are one’s fellow compatriots. One’s homeland is made up of such people. Because in one’s own country there has been also torturers, corrupt people, and they are not my compatriots.
Mario Benedetti

Fair but relentless, Benito Soto was a person of humble origins, with a strong sense of loyalty and justice, he usually steals big bounties, and leave a portion in the populations that gave the crew shelter.

What is Burla Negra?

Burla Negra is an open tool of Pepa Loba that works as a ‘solidarity and resistance box’ for activists in order to face adverse circumstances derived from their action. It seeks:

to collaborate so that activists may pay the fines resulting from their action.

to build campaigns denouncing social and political repression.

to serve as a tool where one can denounce situations of social and political repression.

Dream and you will be free in spirit. Fight and you will be free in life.
Che

Contributions

Name

Concept

Account Number

Swift / BIC

Instructions for contributions

Our data is reflected on the left. Just enter the data in the system you use with your banking institution, as you do with any regular payment.

As default, it’s understood your contribution is for Pepa Loba. If you want to contribute to a specific campaign, then introduce the name of the campaign as “Concept”.

If you want to know that your contribution arrived, send us an email with the subject “Donation”, and we’ll let you know as soon as we receive it.

I understand now that my welfare is only possible if I acknowledge my unity with all the peoples of the world without exception.
León Tolstoy

Burla Negra

The myth…

Burla Negra was a pirate ship that sailed the Atlantic in search of loot. It emerged suddenly amidst the fog without any of the victims noticing its presence until it was too late, and consequently did not have any opportunity to defend themselves. It was the fastest ship in the Atlantic and its crew was characterised by its bravery and a high sense of justice.

The Burla Negra was only fit for freedom lovers. Only those who had not been subject to more than their own will were welcome in it, and thus, behaved fearless and with no respect to the established regulations. Burla Negra did not attack the Spanish flag vessels, but it sailed under no country’s flag nor under any god’s. Both the crew and the boat itself (although commanded by Benito Soto) had no owner. Burla Negra only abided to the Pirate Code (everyone had the right to vote, the loot was divided equally,…) to which they were subject all the same. The captain was captain because the crew decided so, it didn’t depend on any other factor.

Burla Negra was in its origins a slave ship before it was turned into a pirate ship and its members, who were part of that crew, were people who embarked on it for a living but, little by little, began questioning the working of such undertaking. The dehumanized treatment of slaves, bad temper, and the senior commanders’ lack of scruples, as well as the unjust treatment towards the crew, made Benito Soto alongside a group of sailors decide to mutiny while the ship is anchored on the African coast. Once the ship is taken, they leave the crew ashore and they free the slaves inviting, if they wish, to join them.

Thence they venture towards an island where they’ll decide which plan to follow. They’ll paint the whole ship with tar, in order to easily camouflage themselves in the mist and in the night; they’ll raise the pirate flag and will begin their wanderings boarding all sorts of vessels always proclaiming themselves victorious. After taking hold of the ship and the loot, they abandoned the crew onshore, sank the boat and equally divided the spoils among all pirates.

Burla Negra’s treasures remain hidden in different Atlantic islands and in Galicia. In some cases the crew had to refuel, and they usually asked for shelter in poor people’s homes, with whom they always shared part of the loot if they accepted.

The days of Burla Negra ended with a helmsman error that makes the ship run aground and enables part of the crew to get arrested. Benito Soto, who’s able to escape initially, will be reported by one of his early victims (who identifies him) and will end his days hanged by Englishmen.

Some say that nowadays Burla Negra, with Benito Soto at the head, emerges at night, at high seas when the fog is thick, and when greed or injustice are present in any vessel sailing through the Atlantic, especially at latitudes close to the Galician coast.

Burla negra remains in the collective imaginary/imagination as a symbol of freedom and justice. A landmark of no submission to the established regulations in a quest for the expected future. Even though not proven, it is believed José de Espronceda dedicated “La Canción del Pirata” to Benito Soto.

[…]
My treasure is my gallant ship,
My only God is freedom;
My law the strength and the wind,
My sole homeland, the sea.
[…]

…Reality

At the beginning of the 20th century, in Santa María’s sandbank in Cádiz, strong tides caused a sunk brigantine to appear open air along with hundreds of coins minted in the 18th century.

It was Burla Negra, the ship commanded by Galician Benito Soto, the last pirate of the 19th century, hanged in Gibraltar in 1830*.

Born in Moureira’s quarter of Pontevedra in 1805. He began working as a fisherman with his father and his siblings; from an early age he joins a merchant vessel through the Atlantic, enrolled on a ship engaged in slave trade called “El Defensor de Don Pedro”. Together with his second in command, Victor Barbazán, they decide to mutiny on the African coast, and abandon the rest of the crew in Ghana. They rename the ship as “The BURLA NEGRA” (The Black Joke).

From that moment on they devote themselves to piracy, and they attack whichever ship they meet along the way, except for Spanish vessels. Their main victims are English, American, and Portuguese, acquiring a sinister reputation. The legend of Burla Negra is born, and in seafaring taverns in England, the omnipresent menace of the “Black Joke” arises every so often.

After five years of looting and boardings: Morning-Star, Sunbury, Cessnock, Topacio, New Prospect, etc, decide to split the riches and retire. Burla Negra sets its course towards Ponteverda’s harbour, camouflaged under the pseudonym “Buen Jesús y las Ánimas” (“Good Jesus and the Souls”).

In April 1828 Burla Negra anchors and transfers part of its treasure ashore (where it is concealed to be sold afterwards). It does the same in A Coruña and on May 5th it ventures towards Cádiz. On May 9th, due to a storm, it beaches in Santa María’s sandbank (Cádiz). The pirates, loaded with money, make a great party sparing no expenses in Cadiz’s capital for six days, they are recognized by one of their early victims and get arrested. Benito Soto and three others succeed in escaping towards Gibraltar, where they are finally apprehended and judged by the English. On January 25th 1830 Benito Soto is hanged, his body cut into pieces, and his head, pinned on a spike for public mockery. His last words were: “Goodbye everyone, the show’s over!”.

*Some facts point out it happened in 1833.

Benito Soto

The Myth…

Benito Soto is a large and strong individual who’s not afraid of anything or anyone. His figure is portrayed as that of a fair but relentless man. A person who is born in a humble house of a sailor origin in Moureira’s quarter in Pontevedra, who is doomed to get by from a very young age; this will forge his insightful character, adventurous and independent. He understands that he lives in a world where inequalities and injustice are omnipresent elements for he rebels continually against them. Benito Soto is highly loyal towards his people and his ideas of freedom and justice. Its because of this he always attacks vessels loaded with onerous loots belonging to flags different from the Spanish one. Consequently he often shares a small portion of his spoils with people of no resources when he is ashore and is offered shelter

…Reality

Born in a humble house on 31 San Roque de Abajo Road, in Moureira’s quarter in Pontevedra in 1805. A tall young man (he was almost 7 feet tall), large and strong, with dark eyes, and his face marked with the smallpox upon his cheekbones. He began working as a fisherman with his father and his siblings; from an early age (17 years old) he joins a merchant vessel through the Atlantic, enrolled on a ship engaged in slave trade called “El Defensor de Don Pedro”. In 1827, he rioted on the African coast, and left the ones who did not mutiny in Ghana, abandoned to their own fate. The legend of the Burla Negra is born, and Benito Soto’s wanderings begin. He is then known as “the last pirate of the Atlantic”. Soto and the rest of his crew were relentless and cruel, affecting mainly the British fleet.

When he gets a substantial loot, they set course towards Pontevedra where they will anchor and unload part of the loot in April, changing Burla’s name for the pseudonym “Buen Jesús y las Ánimas” (Good Jesus and the Souls). He parts towards Gibraltar on May 5th after doing the same in A Coruña. On May 9th they beach in Santa María’s sandbank (Cádiz). The pirates, loaded with money, make a great party sparing no expenses in Cadiz’s capital for six days, and they get arrested. Benito Soto and three others succeed in escaping towards Gibraltar, where they are finally apprehended and judged. On January 25th 1830 Benito Soto is hanged, his body cut into pieces, and his head, pinned on a spike for public mockery. It is told that before being hanged, he helped his executioner to gird the rope, turned to the expectant audience and shouted: “Goodbye everyone, the show’s over!”; it is also said that after being hanged, due to his great size, the executioner had to dig because his feet touched the ground.

Contributors

How can I contribute to a specific “Campaign” or “Anti-Repressive Alert”?

Simply select the “Campaign” or “Anti-Repressive Alert” to which you want to contribute financially, press the button, and insert your data into the opening form to make the payment digitally.

If you prefer you may also make the payment through the data that is reflected in the “Contributions” section. You only have to use this data in whichever system you have with the bank, just as you do with any regular payment.

In case you want to make a cash payment you must contact us through the email info@pepaloba.org and indicate where and how to make the deposit.

Is it possible to collaborate financially with more than one “Campaign” or “Anti-Repressive Alert”?

Yes. A person can contribute to the financing of any “Campaign” and/or “Anti-Repressive Alerts” it deems appropriate.

Is it possible to collaborate financially several times with the same “Campaign” or “Anti-Repressive Alert”?

Yes. A person can contribute as many times as he/she deems appropriate to the financing of a “Campaign” and/or “Anti-Repressive Alert”, while it is active.

Is there any kind of system that prevents the possibility of scams?

Before the launching of a “Campaign” or an “Anti-Repressive Alert”, its promoters and Pepa Loba sign a contract. By signing this document the promoters commit to develop the actions and/or initiatives submitted for which they request the financial aid, and to use 100% of the funding obtained therein for the indicated purpose.

In the event that the promoter/s did not fulfill the commitments signed, and after exhausting other ways based on the relationship of trust, negotiation and direct treatment, Pepa Loba reserves the right to take the actions deemed appropriate against him/her/them.

What should be indicated in the “Concept” section of a “Contribution” to a “Campaign” or “Anti-Repressive Alert”?

You should follow the same steps as to make a donation.

It should be taken into account, while doing the operation in the bank, to insert the word “Contribution” in the concept, followed by the name of the case, the “Anti-Repressive Alert” or the “Campaign” to which the Money is destined (Contribution: Name of the Anti-Repressive Alert or Donation: Name of the Campaign).

Remember that if the name of the “Campaign” or the “Anti-Repressive Alert” is not indicated in the concept, it will be understood that a donation is simply made to Pepa Loba.

Do I need to fill out the Swift / BIC code?

The Swift_BIC code only needs to be filled out by those people who are going to make payments from outside Spain.

Anti-repressive Alerts

What are “Campaigns”?

A “Campaign” is each of the crowdfunding lines that are opened in order to be able to finance a project. When a “Campaign” is launched, it is sought, at the same time, to generate a brief material with the basic information of a project so that the promoter can disseminate the project through different spaces.

What are “Anti-Repressive Alerts”?

“Anti-Repressive Alerts” is the name given to each of the cases of repression that open within Burla Negra, so that they can face the sanctions they receive. When an “Anti-Repressive Alert” is launched, it is sought, at the same time, to generate a brief material with the basic information of a case so that whoever promotes this “Anti-Repressive Alert” can disseminate the case through various spaces.

What guidelines does a “Campaign” need to have in order to be opened?

Pepa Loba’s “Campaigns” must respect the principles of the Association, as well as develop projects, initiatives and/or actions of a social, cultural, ecological, scientific, educational or technological nature; Based on the construction of alternatives and social response to the current system and ultimately seek a benefit for the largest number of people.

As a result, the “Campaigns” will not be opened to initiatives, projects and/or actions that do not respect its principles or that have the purpose of profit, the process of selling products or services, as well as sweepstakes campaigns, fundraising campaigns for charities, or advertising or “self-promotion” campaigns (such as election campaigns or communicative recruitment campaigns).

In any case, the final acceptance of a campaign will depend on the people who make up Pepa Loba’s Coordination team.

What cases can request an “Anti-Repressive Alert”?

The “Anti-Repressive Alerts” will be managed through Burla Negra, which is an instrument specifically designed by Pepa Loba.

Burla Negra will be used to deal with cases in which people are victims of social and/or political repression.

In no case will the funds be used to support issues that are not related to activism.

In any case, the final acceptance of an “Anti-Repressive Alert” will depend on the people who make up Pepa Loba’s Coordination Team.

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Contact

If you wish to ask or clarify any issue, please contact us using the contact form or writing us an email to info@pepaloba.org.